At the time, I didn’t get into another aspect of the Survey of Consumer Finances: What happened to certificates of deposit between 2007 and 2010, the years studied.

We know CD rates began their huge fall during this time. And now we can see the domino effect this had on retirement income.

From the survey:

“Yields fell dramatically on liquid deposits, time deposits and bonds; for example, the rate on a three-month certificate of deposit (CD) fell from an average of 5.46 percent in September 2007 to 0.28 percent in September 2010.”

Not coincidentally, CD ownership during this time fell 3.9 percentage points, and the median balance held in CDs fell 4.8%, according to the survey.

At the same time, the average income of households headed by someone who was retired fell 17%. Among this group, a fifth to a quarter held CDs during this time.

It’s easy to see where much of this income loss came from.

And with rates still falling, it’s easy to guess that this income problem has gotten worse in subsequent years, which is why — more than ever — savers looking to invest in CDs need to look hard for good deals.

You can still do considerably better than the top nationally available deal by purchasing certificates of deposit at the best-paying credit unions and local banks, which you’ll find on our list of the highest CD rates.

This week, we added one nationally available deal and two local deals:

Fort Knox Federal Credit Union pays 2.00% APY on special 59-month CDs with a $500 minimum deposit. Anyone can qualify for membership in Fort Knox by joining the American Consumer Council, right on the credit union’s website. Membership in the American Consumer Council is free. Joining the credit union costs $15.

Quaint Oak Bank in Pennsylvania pays 2.05% APY on 60-month CDs with a $500 minimum deposit. Pennsylvania residents can buy these certificates of deposit at a branch or through the mail.

Libertad Bank in Texas pays 1.50% APY on special 15-month CDs with a $1,000 minimum deposit. Texas residents can purchase these certificates of deposit at Libertad Bank or fill out an application online at the “open a new accountâ€ tab and then complete the process through the mail.

Overall, though, it’s been a bad week for the very best CD rates.

Unfortunately, the top nationally available CD pays considerably less than it did last week.

Minnesota’s Endura Financial Federal Credit Union cut its best rates by more than half a percentage point. It had paid 2.32% APY on 5-year CDs.

Now, it’s no longer on our list for any of its rates.

And the top local deal also has vanished.

In New Mexico, Western Heritage Bank had offered an outstanding 2.75% APY on 60-month CDs, 2% on 36-month CDs, 1.75% APY on 24-month CDs and 1.65% APY on 12-month CDs.

Those rates have all been cut, although this bank remains on our list of 5-year CDs.

The best local rate would have fallen to the 2.73% APY offered by El Paso Area Teachers Federal Credit Union. But this Texas institution cut its rates, as well.

You’ll find all the top-paying deals clearly marked on our highest CD rates page, showing where they are available, with a quick link back to the original post, which includes more information on the institution and its requirements.

We’ll update this page weekly so that you’ll always know what great deals are out there from credit unions and local banks.